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Industry co-operation

In 2004 O2 helped to publish a UK mobile operators’ joint Code of Practice for the self-regulation of new forms of content on mobile phones.

We are proud to have participated in the debate in the UK on content standards and to have helped the industry work together on this vital issue.

The Code of Practice is intended to protect children and give parents and carers:

• confidence - to understand new mobile devices

• power - to influence the type of content that their children can access

• knowledge - to show their children how to use new services responsibly

 

But what does the Code of Practice mean?

UK mobile operators have established the Independent Mobile Classification Body (IMCB). Its role is to provide and maintain a classification framework for content in the UK mobile environment. This determines what kind of commercial content must be classified 18. The framework is published by the IMCB at www.imcb.org.uk.

The mobile networks require content providers to classify content according to the independent framework, and to use age verification to ensure that content classified 18 is only distributed to adults. 

Chat rooms made available to customers under 18 must be moderated (i.e. monitored to guard against inappropriate use).

Parents and carers will have the option to apply controls to internet access services in order to restrict a child's access to Internet content.

Mobile operators will also continue to work to combat bulk and nuisance communications.

Mobile operators will provide advice to customers on the nature and use of new mobile devices and services, and support other relevant media to improve customer knowledge. 

You can download the UK Code of Practice here.